Flash light



July 22, 1930. c, FULLMER 1,770,902

FLASH LIGHT Filed March 16, 1927 Patented July 22, 1930 '1 UNITED; o-FFiciEd GILES o. FULLMER, prgsmmmom, conivnoricnmgnssxenon' To, THE memenron'n METAL eoonsminurncmnnmeooivxrnni, .OEQB IDGEBoRT;ooNNnoTIo 'r, neon. V

' LP-ORATIONgOF CONNECTICUT j FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed March' 16, 1 927: Sria1,No .175, 763; l

Thisinve ntion relatesitoflash lights of the type. which is easily portable. and adapted :to becarried in the hand, andih'as for anobject' to provide a flash light'stru'cture, and particu larly. a switch control; which will be more simplein'construction and maybe manufactured and assembled at less costitthan the structures nowgenera lly' usedg w It is also an objectoit' the invention to pro vide an improved switch construction for this type offdevices in whichf theliabilityof short: circuiting I the Battery is reduced 1 to a minimum, and in which the weightof th'e battery is prevented from injuring the lamp bulb.

It is-a further object of the invention to provide a switch in which there is-qa wiping efiect between the switch and the stationary contactsto keep the contactingfsurfaeesclean and 1 always 1 insure a good lem-mar Contact. I

It isa still furtlierobjecttoprovide a switch in which theliabilityof "accidental shifting thereof to theon position isreduced to a minimum and therefore, the lia bility, of accidental closingofithe switch andv exhausting the battery when the light is placed 011 a fiat supportor carried in=an automobile kit is greatly reduced.

Witlt the foregoing and other objects I in view, I haye devisedthe construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing form ing a part of this specification. In .this;draW- 1n r Fig. l is aside elevation offa flash 'llght 1n-' volving my improved-construction with portions of thecasing broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is atransverse sectionsubstantiah 1y on line 22 ofF-ig. 1 and-showing the" switch inthe off position. v i F ig. '3 is a detail section throughthe casing showing the switch; in the on position.v

Flg' ls a slmllari i lookmgifrom thei batterysis-of the standardtype, which usually joint.

Fig; 6 isa top plan viewiof 'theswitizligfii i tact and itssupport.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof.

ing showingthe use of a different type of Fig. 8 isi a transversesectionrthrough the switchielement and-its support-{substantially Fig. 9'1 isa frOntF elevation and'top plan view-of a:.closing member for'the slot in the '5:

. Fig. 10ti's" asectio'n similarto'Fi'g. 2 show ing a slightly different construction; and

is a I Vertical section through the, casing 5 showing the construction of Fig. 10 in elevation. H I

The. fl'ashlight'comprising-a casing preferably 4 comprising two sections including. a

body'section' IO and ashorter end section 11* which is secured to the body section a uit. ablefiointi In tlie formshown inF-igs. 1 to 4" this oint is a bayonet. jointcomprising Ljshapedbr "bayonetslots' 1 2" leading from the-- tIieFbayOnetsIotsb'e'provided with a recess 14F totcooperate with.a spring, later to be described, to form 'aflock to prevent accidental separation offthe. two sections of" the eassection ofthe casingand the lower end of the end" section are correspondingly threaded-as indicated at l5and 16 respectively.

V At'the,,closedend of -the body section. 10 is .mounted aspringfllfi. This springis preferably of apiece'ofround wireof the desired: stiffness and includes a base portion 18 seatedintheigrooverformedby a bead 19 in the I end ofithe ca'sing tothushold;thespring in positiornl and' at:v its upper end it presses againstthe lowereend ofithe battery 20. This comprises a zinc shell enclosed in a fibre covraring-such as stifi' paperyso'that the side A walls are insulatedbythis covering, but the end of the metal casing is exposed sov that it f 'will eng'age"the spring J17 and will be,

gy l 'qreby'on theasiiiglO... The other" termiharofthe battery is usually in the able shape. as substantially conical and is threaded at 1ts inner end or apex, as shown at 23, to form a lamp socket. The lamp is of the standard type used in this class of devicesincluding a screw the socket 23 and form electrical contact therewith. It also has the usual central contact 25 insulated from the screw shell 24, and

the shell and central contact are electrically connected in the usual manner to the opposite ends of the filament, not shown, which is enclosed in the usual glass bulb 26. The open end of the reflector is closed by the usual glass lens 27 clamped to theopen side of the reflector; The reflector has a flange 28 resting against the end of the section 11 of the casing with the flat side of the lens resting against this flange, and they are both clamped to the casing by the ring 29 threaded on the casing, as shown at 30, with the flange31 of the ring engaging the face of the lens. I

My improved control switch comprises a supportingmember 33 of suitable insulating material, such as a pressed fibre or molded phenolic condensation product, and it j is shown in the present structure as a plate of substantially oval shape. At one end this plate is provided with a lug or extension 34 extending through an opening 35 in the side of the casing, and on the opposite side of the casing is a slot 36 through which a lug 37 projects, this lug being on the opposite end of the support. It will, therefore, be noted that the lug 34 cooperating with the sides of the opening in the casing provide a pivot for, the support 33 and the lug 37 projects sufficiently from the surface of the casing to be engaged by the thumb or finger of the operator and thus provide an operating means to swing the support on its pivot. It is also to be noted that this support extendstransversely of the casing and is mounted between the battery and the lamp socket.

Mounted on the support by any suitable means is a switch member 38. A convenient and simple way of mounting this member is to provide the support with a slot or opening 39, and the switch member preferably comprises aflat strip of resilient metal passing through this opening and extending substantially parallel with this support on the under and upper sides thereof, as shown at 40 and 41, respectively. 42 on opposite sides of the portion41 bent over the edge of the slot to hold the switch member in proper position. f I

It is preferred that when the elements are assembled the lower portion; 4.0103: the switch member should at all times engage the end of'the battery terminal 21 although this is In the present formit is shown shell 24 adapted to be threaded into The switch may have lugs not absolutely essential. Under these conditions, however, the resilient action of the switch formsa spring support for the battery,

I and should the light be dropped would, therefore, because of its cushioning efiect, tend to prevent injury to the battery or the other elements. The battery terminal will be held against this switch contact by the spring 17 at the lower end. of the-battery to insure proper electrical contact between the switch and the battery terminal. The other portion 41 of the switch element is also spaced somewhat from the surface of the support 33 and forms a spring contact to engage the central contact 25 of the lamp. The free end of the portion of the switch element is bent downwardly somewhat to form a rounded end 43 sothat it will slide easily into engagement with the lamp contact, and the top surface of the support may, if desired, be provided with a recess 44 to permit the desired movement of this contact. 1

The upper portion 41 of the switch element is of such a length that when the support 33 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this portion of the switch is out of engagement with the central lamp contact 25, and therefore, the circuit through the lamp is open, although the lower portion 40 of the switch is still in engagement with the terminal 21 of the battery. If now the support is swung to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, by swinging the lug 37 to the right in the slot 36, this movement will bring the upper portion 41 of the switch into engagement with the central lamp contact 25, as shown in Fig. 3, and will, therefore, close the circuit through the lamp because the screw shell contact of the lamp and the opposite end of the battery are both grounded on the casing. It will be noted that movement of the switch element is a wiping movement across both the terminal of the battery and the lamp contact and will, therefore, tend to always keep these contacts clean and make a good electrical connection. I

The left hand end of the slot 36 is provided with a recess in the upper edge thereof to provide a shoulder 45 and serve as a stop to prevent accidental shifting of the switch support to the on position. It will be noted that when the elements are assembled the spring 17 at. the lower end of the battery is compressed and forces the battery upwardly and holds its terminal 21 against the switch member, always insuring proper contact therewith, and it also presses the lug '37 against the upper edge of the slot 36. Therefore, when the switch support is in the left hand position of Figs. 1 and 2 and the switch is in the off position the lug 37 is held in the recess in the upper edge of the slot by this spring and the'support-is, therefore, held by the shoulder 45 against movement to the on position. In throwing the switch to the on position the lug 37 is firstmoved downwardly in the slot to free it from the shoulder 45, and it may then beforced to the right to move the switch to the on posittensions I iandrbl to slide the supportr49'a-n'd bring the-spring contact 41 into or move'it from engagement with thelamp contact 25. Portion140 remains in engagement .with the tion. This feature prevents accidental move battery terminal '21 the :same as in the'first ment of the switch to the on position, and thus prevents accidental exhausting of the battery when the light is laid on a flat support or is carried in an automobile or the like. j i I It is also to be noted that as the switch support 33 is located between the battery and the lamp socket this support forms a supthis port for this end of the battery to prevent movement thereof longitudinally of the casing, and therefore, should the lamp be droppedwith'the top or lamp end down the weight of the battery will be taken by this support and it will not be transmitted to the lamp, and therefore, the lamp will be protected against injury. The spring effect of the switch element also gives a cushioning 1 effect which will tend to prevent injury to the battery. As the switch support 33 is usually made of some fibrous or other nonmetallic material a metal rivet 46 may be mounted in the lug 37 in position tov engage the top edge of the slot 36 .to take the wear of the edge of this slot against the side of the lug as the switch is moved to and from the on position. i

In assembling the lug 37 is inserted in the slot 36 and then the lug 34 may be inserted in the opening 35. As the casing is usually made of thin sheet metal it will have sufficient flexibility to permit this. As the spring 17 tends .to force the battery and the end section 11 upwardly it will hold the rivets 13 in the recesses 14 in the bayonet slots 12 and thus prevent accidental separation of thesections of the casing. It is also desirable'to close the slot 36 to prevent entrance of dirt. For purpose I provide a curved metal plate 47 having an opening 48 to receive the lug 37. 'This plate will lie next to the inner surface of the casing and close the slot 36. It will move laterally with the lug 37 and is of suflicient length to always cover the slot.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown a somewhat different construction of switch. Here instead of having the switch contact 38 mounted on an insulating switch support pivoted at one side, it is mounted on an-insulating support 49 having extensions 50 and 51 at its opposite ends extending through openings in the opposite sides of the casing 11, and guided for transverse sliding move ment therein. These extensions may be round or other desirable shapes but are preferably rectangular in rectangular openings in the casing to help prevent the support from turning. The switch contact 38 is mounted on this support in the same manner as on the support 33. The circuit is closed or opened by pushing inwardly on the ends of the exfform. The extension51 may have a'notch 52inits top side:to receive the edge of the casing 11 and thus prevent accidental closing o'f'the :switch'by pressure on the end of the extension 51 when laying it on a flat support or placing it in a tool box. 'Thespring 17-atthe lower end of'the with-the spring action of the contact 40 will :battery. together 'tendto hold the edge o'fthe opening against ithe bottom ofthis notch, asshownin ig. =11, To operate it "the extension 51-is first {pressed downwardly to remove the notch "from the edge of the opening and then the support-'49 mayibeshifted to close the circuit.

?Having thus set forth the nature of my "invention, what I claim is:"

iv v 1. 111a flash light, a casing adapted to hold I V 'a ba'ttery and provided with an openingin thew-all thereof and a slot in the opposite wall, a lamp socket at ione-end of the casing,

a n insulating support having an extension in said opening whereby it ispivotally'mounted --and also providedwith an operating extensien projecting 7 through said slot, and a switch member carried by said support and adapted to bridge a terminal of the battery and a contact of a lamp in said socket.

2. -In a flash light, a casing. adapted to hold a battery, a lamp socket mounted at one end of the casing, said casinghaving an opening and a slot respectively on opposite sides thereof, an insulating plate mounted between the battery and said socket, said plate having an extension in said opening forming a pivotal support and an operating extension projecting through said slot, and a switch member comprising a resilient plate extending through an opening in said insulating plate and including contacts on opposite sides thereof to bridge a lamp contact and a terminal of the battery.

j 3. In a flash light, a casing adapted to hold a battery and provided respectively in op 0- site side wallswith an opening and a sibt a transversely extending insulating support having an extension in said opening to form a pivot and another extension projected through the slot to provide an operating means, a switch contact carried by said support and adapted to engage one terminal of the battery, said support cooperating with the walls of the casing to form a support for the battery, a lamp socket on the opposite side of the support from the battery, and a lamp in said socket,.said switch contacthaving an extension adapted toengage a contact of said lamp. I

4. In aflash light, a casing adapted to hold a battery, a lamp socket at one end thereof,

a lamp in said socket, an insulating support mounted to move transversely of. the

casing between the battery and said socket,

and an integral one-piece resilient switch conspring portions inthese posit-ions.

5. In a flash light, a casing adapted to hold a battery, a lamp socket mounted at one end of the casing, said casing having an opening and a slot respectively on opposite sides thereof, an insulating plate mounted between the battery and said socket, said plate having an extension in said opening forminga pivotal support and an operating extension projecting through saidslot, a switch member mounted on said plate adapted to bridge a terminal ofthe battery and a lamp contact including a spring contact on one side of the plate, and said slot having a shoulder cooperating with said operating extension and said spring contact to retain the plate in one position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. 1

' GILES C. FULLMER. 

